GSK, Pfizer pay U.S. doctors $262M

Following up Merck’s doctor-payment disclosures, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline posted their numbers. And perhaps befitting to the world’s largest drugmaker, Pfizer spent the most: $177 million was doled out to doctors in support for clinical trials and speaking fees. GSK’s payments were slightly less than half that, at a total of $85 million for trials and speaking.

For Pfizer, the lion’s share went to research; $108 million of its total spending supported clinical trials and related work. A chunk of the rest went to doctors for speaking on behalf of the company. Some 4,600 physicians collected a total of $34.4 million, or $7,400 on average. Then there was $18 million in free meals, $8.9 million in advisory fees (paid to 1,400 doctors), $5.8 million for travel, and $1.7 million for education.

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